Alex, Class of 2016

Elementary Education Major, certificate in Italian

After serving as an Orientation Leader for incoming students in the summer of 2013, Alex was eager to be a resource for students on campus year-round. When she was in her first year as a Resident Assistant (RA) in St. Ann Hall, one of Emmanuel’s residence halls, she loved building community on a floor that was home to first-year, sophomore and transfer students.

"I enjoy being a mentor and listener, a counselor and mediator," Alex said. "That is exactly what an RA does." She was able to be that lifeline right on the same floor as her residents whenever they needed her.

Those lifelines are a comfort to first-year students who are likely finding themselves away from home for the first time and living with a roommate matched from a housing survey. The process, Alex said, worked very well for her.

"My roommate grew into my best friend and also introduced me to the best group of friends I could have asked for at this school," she said. "They have pushed me and challenged me to be the best version of myself, as well as supporting me in all my endeavors both in leadership and my education."

In the classroom, Alex was an elementary education major-a field she couldn't wait to be "in the thick of."

Taking Literacy Methods, Math Methods and other curriculum courses gave her more insight into the challenges of teaching, she said.

She began her pre-practicum in 2014 and was placed at Rafael Hernandez, a bilingual school in Roxbury, which perfectly suited her affinity for languages. Throughout her schooling, Alex took years of Spanish, but focused her time at Emmanuel on earning a certificate in Italian. She completed the requirements during summer 2014, studying at the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan for a month through the travel course "Today's Italy."

"While there I took a language course and a cooking course, and submerged myself in the culture on the many weekend trips I attended," Alex said. "There is nothing like learning a language through immersing yourself in it."

In addition to serving as an RA, Alex was involved in many clubs and activities outside the classroom. Most meaningful, though, was her work as the special events coordinator for Emmanuel College Dance Marathon (ECDM), a nationwide fundraising event for hospitals in the Children's Miracle Network for which Emmanuel has earned a place as one of the top five fundraisers in New England.

"Boston Children's Hospital is such a worthy home for the money we have raised," Alex said. "The children that pass through their doors-the ones I have met and the ones for whom I have been blessed to hear their stories-they change your outlook on life."

Along with ECDM, Alex was a member of the Emmanuel College Dance Team and of the Emmanuel Chapel Choir. She was also a founder and the secretary of Campus Cursive, a Front Desk Assistant and a tutor in the Academic Resource Center.

"I love people and love helping others," she said. All of her positions and activities reflected that in some way.

Interested in Elementary Education?

Elementary education majors at Emmanuel College learn to lay the foundation for a child's future learning habits and goals. Beyond instruction in the three Rs, you will develop an understanding of your role in the formation of young students' critical thinking skills and their ability to adapt to new situations and socialize with their peers. Plant the seed. Foster the next generation of leaders and innovators.

Alexis' student-life experiences are comprised of athletics, on-campus leadership positions, teaching practicums and enjoying down time in her residence hall—opportunities that enhance both the social and academic aspects of college as a whole.

After serving as an Orientation Leader for incoming students in the summer of 2013, Alex was eager to be a resource for students on campus year-round. When she was in her first year as a Resident Assistant (RA) in St. Ann Hall, one of Emmanuel’s residence halls, she loved building community on a floor that was home to first-year, sophomore and transfer students.

At Emmanuel, Darren was able explore many interests - in chemistry, interning at Pfizer and conducting research side-by-side with a faculty member, and in performing arts, starring in and directing College productions.

Joelle was a resident of Loretto hall before becoming a Resident Assistant. In helping students navigate their first year of college, Joelle gained an understanding of and appreciation for the friendship, mentorship, leadership and professional opportunities that come with living on campus.

In high school, Amy didn’t feel confident enough to join clubs and participate in activities until her senior year; but when she was making her transition to college, she was determined to get involved right away.